Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Common Application and how do I complete it?

The Common Application is an online, centralized college application used by over 600 educational institutions. With just one application, students can apply to 20 member schools, though schools may require separate supplemental data/questions along with the common application and an application fee for each school. The University of Mary Washington uses the Common Application exclusively for admissions. Get the Common App Checklist here.

Don’t forget FAFSA!

Test Optional

First year applicants to the University of Mary Washington who maintain at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative high school grade point average in a challenging course of study may request to be considered for admission to the university without standardized test scores. Applicants should request test optional review on their application for freshman admission. Students applying for merit-based scholarships, including the Washington and Alvey Scholarship, would be ineligible for this program. Students applying test optional may qualify for other endowed scholarships and a new curriculum based program. Click here to learn more.

Exceptions to test optional review include:

Students applying for admission to the UMW Honors Program or Nursing Program

Students applying for merit based scholarships (full-ride Washington and Alvey Scholarships, Presidential, Eagle, and Blue-Gray Awards)

Home-schooled applicants

Candidates applying from schools that provide written evaluations rather than grades

Admission to UMW remains a competitive process, and all candidates for admission will be considered on their own merits. Qualifying for application review without submitting standardized test scores does not guarantee admission to UMW.

If you have questions regarding the test optional policy, please contact Admissions at (540) 654-2000, 800-468-5614, or email admit@umw.edu.

Early Decision

Early decision is a binding agreement between a student and the university. Prospective students who apply to their first-choice institutions by the early decision deadline will receive prompt consideration of their applications. If accepted, the student commits to UMW and agrees to withdraw applications from all other schools.

UMW will begin accepting early decision applications immediately. Currently, the university also offers non-binding early action and regular decision options for prospective students.

The early decision application deadline is Nov. 1, early action deadline is Nov. 15, Regular admission applications are due Feb. 1. Students will be notified in early December about their acceptance under early decision.